Patient's question:
Discovered in mid-October this year that the child has difficulty breathing while sleepingDoctor's answer:
Adenoid hypertrophy is a condition specific to childhood, typically beginning to grow around age 3 and reaching its peak of proliferation between 6 and 10 years old. After age 6, the growth slows down, and around age 10, the adenoids gradually begin to shrink. It primarily causes snoring during sleep, mouth breathing, and symptoms may worsen after a cold. A fiberoptic examination may be performed to assess the size of the adenoids (2/3 to 3/4). If possible, a sleep study should be conducted to check for hypoxia. If persistent snoring occurs and conservative medication is ineffective, and the adenoid hypertrophy exceeds 2/3 with signs of hypoxia, conservative treatment should be continued for 2-3 months before considering surgery.Since the child is still young, conservative treatment should be prioritized, and surgery should only be considered if it remains ineffective. The younger the child, the higher the recurrence rate after surgery. It is recommended to sleep on the side. If nasal congestion is severe at night, 0.125% xylometazoline nasal drops can be used for 5 days to relieve breathing. This can be repeated as needed and is also helpful in preventing colds.